You all know, that fast website loading times not only improve the user experience, but they can also substantially impact a site’s success since they affect SEO rankings, conversions, brand loyalty, and whatnot.
And, in these competitive times where businesses are trying their best to attract and hold onto customers, you don’t want to lose them because of your website speed.
And, to improve your site speed and performance, you have to reduce your initial server response time. If you are wondering what it is, what is the ideal time to load and what are the best practices you can adopt to improve your website site, then this blog has got you all covered.
Let’s get going.
What is the Initial Server Response Time? Let’s Understand First…
Before getting into optimization strategies, it’s critical to understand what Initial Server Response Time is and why it matters. The time it takes for a server to respond to a request from a user’s browser is known as the initial response time.
The server response time (SRT) is the duration of time that elapses between a web browser’s request for information and the response from the server.
Let’s investigate and learn how WordPress’s initial server response time operates.
Make a request. The browser on your visitor requests a certain page to your server.
Get. After receiving the request, the server connects to the browser.
Procedure. The server gets information from the database, processes it, and then puts together the page being requested.
Give it away. The server returns the finished page to the browser, and the user can see the material they requested.
Let’s keep scrolling to find out the ideal server response time for your WordPress website.
How Much an Ideal Server Response Time Should be for WordPress?
An optimum server response time is an important parameter in web performance improvement because it directly affects user experience and search engine rankings. It denotes the time it takes a web server to process a request and send a response to a client’s browser.
The ideal server response time is typically less than 200 milliseconds (0.2 seconds).
Quicker page rendering results in faster responses which decrease bounce rates and maintain user engagement. Due to its impact on overall site performance and quality, search engines like Google consider the server response time as the important ranking factor in core web vitals assessment.
Let’s keep reading to learn more common causes of slow server response time & how to improve it.
Common Causes of Delay in Initial Server Response Time on WordPress [+ Solutions to Reduce It]
Improving your WordPress site’s initial server response time is key to making it faster and more efficient. But, if you are website is slow – you are not aware which are the factors that affect your website speed. Well, don’t worry – below we will be covering the common causes that slow down your WordPress website along with some of the best strategies to solve those issues and boost your server response time.
1. Heavy Themes and Plugins
Plugins are great resources for expanding the capabilities of your WordPress website. But every plugin, no matter how tiny, increases the server’s workload.
This may manifest as more database queries, HTTP requests, or even incompatible scripts. The burden increases with the number of plugins installed, which causes slower server response times and a sluggish user interface.
Do a routine assessment of your plugins and consider whether you actually need each one. The following advice can help you evaluate your plugins:
Check for redundancy: Several plugins can have complementary functions at times. Do you use two SEO plugins when one would suffice?
Evaluate your usage: It’s usually time to part with a plugin if you haven’t used it in a long or if it is no longer needed for a certain purpose.
Assess the effect on performance: Certain plugins require more resources than others. There are programs like Query Monitor and P3 (Plugin Performance Profiler) that can assist you in determining which plugins are causing your website to load more slowly.
Examine substitutes: If a plugin is essential but consumes a lot of resources, search for less resource-intensive substitutes that can perform the same purpose.
Even though they all appear simple, these suggestions can make a big difference in the user experience and speed of your website.
2. Server Stack
Your server’s stack has a significant impact on server response time. The stack is often composed of servers and cache that work together to offer processing power. Here are the key components to focus on:
Operating System (OS): Keep your server’s operating system updated to the latest stable version. Updates often include performance optimizations and important security patches that protect your server from vulnerabilities that could slow it down.
Web Server Software: Ensure your web server software (such as Apache, Nginx, or LiteSpeed) is up to date. Newer versions often come with improved handling of connections, better resource management, and robust support for modern web technologies.
Database Server: You also need to look after updating your database server software (such as MySQL or MariaDB) to the latest version. Database performance is critical for WordPress sites, and newer versions provide better query optimization, faster indexing, and improved handling of concurrent connections.
PHP Version: Use the latest stable version of PHP. Each new version of PHP includes performance improvements, reduced memory usage, and faster execution times. Also, just so you know – WordPress and its plugins are optimized to run efficiently on newer PHP versions, so upgrading can have a significant impact on response times.
PHP Extensions and Libraries: Ensure all PHP extensions and libraries are updated such as cURL, GD, and mbstring to ensure the smooth functioning of WordPress.
HTTP/2 or HTTP/3: Enable HTTP/2 or HTTP/3 protocols on your server. These protocols offer significant performance benefits by sending multiple requests over a single connection and improving data transfer efficiency.
3. Hosting & Hosting Provider
Using a fast hosting service can help lower the first server response time. Your hosting provider and plan type have a considerable impact on the website’s performance and responsiveness.
You should assess the servers’ performance when searching for a possible web host. Selecting a web host with multiple server locations is also advantageous. If you have a global audience, you may not need a web host that is dedicated to just a particular location.
Once you’ve found a web host that meets your demands, you’ll need to select the appropriate hosting package. Although shared web hosting services are inexpensive, they require sharing a server with other users. With this configuration, you may have additional performance and security issues.
Using a managed WordPress hosting provider, you may prevent many of these problems. You’ll get a fast and secure server, which reduces initial server response time in Worpdress and improves site performance.
4. Domain Name System (DNS) Provider
As previously stated, DNS lookup times play a part in TTFB. As a result, if you’re looking to lower TTFB and enhance server response times, a premium DNS service like Amazon Route 53 may be more beneficial than a free alternative.
For those who are unaware, a DNS functions similarly to an online phone book. It is responsible for converting your IP address into the domain name of your website so that users may access it.
Like with many other website management and maintenance tools, premium DNS versions frequently offer faster performance than free ones. Like CDNs, a DNS will have multiple server locations throughout the world and a premium solution will give you better access to a wider network.
5. Optimizing WordPress Themes
To reduce the initial server response time in WordPress, you can get started on using the right themes and optimizing it quite well.
Here’s how you go about it:
For that, make sure you start by choosing a lightweight theme such as Astra, GeneratePress, or Neve. These themes are designed for speed and efficiency, reducing unnecessary load on the server.
Next, disable or remove any unused features and scripts within the theme to minimize bloat.
Ensure your theme’s code is clean and efficient by combining and minimizing CSS and JavaScript files. You can use the tools like WP Rocket or Autoptimize for that.
Additionally, enable browser caching to improve load times for returning visitors. Plugins like W3 Total Cache or WP Super Cache can help set up browser caching and further enhance performance.
By streamlining your theme and plugins, you can significantly enhance your WordPress site’s speed and overall performance, leading to a better user experience and potentially higher search engine rankings.
6. Database Optimization
A database is where all of the necessary information is stored. It must be streamlined so that both servers can access, handle, and update data without delay. Unmaintained and/or large databases take longer to retrieve the correct data, increasing the overall server response time.
To resolve database difficulties, try removing superfluous and old data and rewriting queries for smarter, faster execution.
You can also optimize the WordPress database for better speed by modifying the database structure and database-related WordPress plugins.
WP Rocket is a powerful premium plugin that includes a slew of functions to improve the performance of your website. We suggest utilizing Autoptimize if you’re searching for a free alternative, nevertheless.
7. Optimize Images and Files
Large files make your website heavy, slowing down page loads and will annoy users. Minifying and compressing content reduces its size while maintaining its quality. This results in faster performance and a better user experience.
Cleaning up the code. Minification eliminates whitespace, formatting, and unnecessary characters. The two greatest plugins for automating this process for CSS, HTML, and JavaScript files are Autoptimize and WP Super Minify.
Image Optimization. Images are frequently the most important content on your website. Consider optimizing WordPress photos without sacrificing quality by using lossy approaches. The EWWW Image Optimizer plugin helps you strike a compromise between the quality of the image and file size reduction.
Font Effectiveness. Text is important for the user’s experience. However, too many font files can slow things down. If you want optimized font files, choose online fonts like Adobe or Google Fonts.
Sluggish loading. Avoid loading everything at once. To speed up the first-page load and enhance performance, use lazy loading strategies to postpone loading images and other non-essential content.
To get the best optimization results for your WordPress website, you can reach out to an experienced WordPress development company who can understand your website needs and deliver the best solutions.
8. Leverage Caching
After selecting a hosting plan, we recommend that you enable cache on your website. When someone visits your website, WordPress needs to process and present dynamic content. If this occurs with every request, the website may slow down.
A website cache copies and stores your site’s data locally for later use. Use browser caching to save browsers from constantly requesting the necessary resources from the server by allowing them to access material that has been cached.
By installing a caching plugin, you may lower the TTFB and quickly set up a cache for your website. LiteSpeed Cache is one of the better choices accessible. You can also utilize the W3 Total Cache and WP Rocket plugins.
These tools can assist you in implementing caching on your website, which can greatly enhance site performance through automatic page caching.
9. Content Delivery Network (CDN)
A CDN can lower TTFB and speed up your WordPress website. It is a global network of dispersed servers that allows your website to load from the data center nearest to the location of each visitor. This reduces the amount of distance that data must travel to retrieve and display your WordPress website, which eventually results in quicker load speeds.
Depending on your web provider, you will have several options for using a CDN on your WordPress website. For example, some plans include CDN functionalities, whilst others limit the CDN plugins or services you can use.
If you’re still unsure, one popular alternative to consider is Cloudflare’s free CDN. It can help to reduce server stress by outsourcing bandwidth demand to its data centers and increasing TTFB scores.
Another feature of this approach that we appreciate is that a lot of well-known WordPress caching plugins have a setting that allows you to enable Cloudflare CDN.
PHP Version Upgrades
The WordPress software is programmed in PHP, an open-source programming language. In addition to updating core software, themes, and plugins, you need also to update your PHP version. Using the most recent PHP version can improve the performance of your website. PHP upgrades can enhance performance and speed by using less memory and improving code.
As PHP versions are updated, updating to the most recent version stops hackers from taking advantage of bugs in the previous versions.
Quick-Tip: Before upgrading to a new PHP version, you should back up your website. If something goes wrong, you can always return the website to its initial configuration.
With a LoadGPL account, you may edit the PHP configuration directly from the hPanel dashboard.
First, navigate to the Advanced menu and click on PHP Configuration.
Next, decide which version of PHP you want to use. By default, it displays only the PHP versions that are currently supported.
Once you’ve chosen the most recent version, click Update. Your website will now run on the latest version of PHP.
If you’re confused about how to make this adjustment with your hosting provider, you can contact the customer care team for assistance or hire a WordPress company that can help you with everything.
Monitoring and Measuring Server Response Time
A fast website improves user engagement and search engine ranking. However, how can you tell if your WordPress website is operating at peak efficiency? Measuring your WordPress initial server response time is critical for finding performance issues. Here are some useful resources to help you:
PageSpeed Insights: This free Google tool evaluates the functionality of your website and offers suggestions for improvement. It provides useful indicators such as TTR as well as targeted optimization recommendations.
GTmetrix: It is a popular alternative and offers thorough performance analysis with waterfall charts. It shows you how long it takes for each element on your website to load graphically. This makes it easier for you to identify problem areas and monitor your progress over time.
Pingdom: This application allows you to quickly and easily measure your TTR from various locations across the world. This might assist you uncover any difficulties with your hosting provider or server location.
Some Additional Tips
Conduct tests regularly: Regularly testing your TTR allows you to monitor your development and discover any new performance issues.
Think About Incorporating Various Tools: Every tool has advantages and disadvantages of its own. To obtain a complete picture of the functionality of your website, consider utilizing a variety of tools.
Examine the outcomes(properly): Don’t limit yourself to the TTR figure. Pay close attention to the recommendations made by the tools and prioritize the ones with the greatest impact.
Conclusion
And that’s a wrap on everything you need to know about reducing initial server response time in WordPress! We’ve covered the basics, explored ideal loading times, identified common causes of delays, and shared the best strategies and tools to address these issues.
Plus, we’ve shown you how to check server response times and get actionable suggestions for improvement. And, we just hope this blog has helped reduce your initial server response time and will boost your site’s performance and conversions in no time.
If you’re seeking expert help to understand and implement these changes, do not hesitate to speak with KrishaWeb – a top-notch WordPress development company.
Just reach out to us, and our WordPress experts will be ready to assist you.
Good luck!
Girish Panchal
Technical Architect
A Technical Architect, proficient in WordPress, Drupal, Laravel, and DevOps tasks, crafts robust IT solutions with a blend of expertise and versatility in web development and infrastructure management.
